At this time, the shopkeeper wiped his sweat and came up and apologized repeatedly: "There are many offenses, there are many offenses, and I was busy and accidentally let this guy up." ”

"It's okay." The young lady whispered, "I'm afraid the shopkeeper doesn't want to cause trouble." ”

The shopkeeper was scheming, and said with a smile, "Miss is very smart." This guy's family is also thin and powerful in Yicheng, and the family is actually cheeky, and this climbing kung fu is perfect. Hitting the dog depends on the owner's face, little old man, I don't have the courage to send this guy for Miss you, please forgive me. ”

"It's not easy for the store to do business, so you don't have to take it to heart." Mr. Liu smiled and said very considerately.

The shopkeeper couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief when he saw that this young lady and Manager Liu didn't blame him at all.

"Shopkeeper, why are there so many people gathered in that big crane?" The young lady asked.

The shopkeeper poked his head out and said, "Oh, that's the crane made by the Ye family's workshop for the Qi family." Just before the tenth month, a ship from the Qi family arrived in Hong Kong from the Western Ocean and brought a huge Western table clock. Originally, the table clock was packed in a box, and it seemed that the young master of the Qi family wanted to see it on the ship, so he installed it on the ship, but when he arrived at the port, he found that he would not open it, so he could only open the top deck and find a way to lift it out. The original little boom and porter were useless, and the Qi family was in a hurry, so they found the little young master of the Ye family to find a way. Unexpectedly, the young master of the Ye family immediately drew a pattern and asked the workshop to build this horse-drawn crane. The clock was unloaded from the ship to the shore that day, and the whole street was full of people. This bell weighs 4,000 pounds, and it seems that it is not laborious to load and unload with this crane, and this crane is called a jack crane. However, because the original brackets were all hewn out of wood, it didn't seem to be very reliable, especially the invasion of moisture in this port, these days the Qi family and Ye's workshop are trying to find a way to rebuild this crane with stone and steel. No, look at the crane, those wearing blue coarse cloth clothes embroidered with yellow characters are the apprentices of Ye's workshop. ”

"A few apprentices of the Ye family can do such a big project? That's a big deal. Seeing that the young lady was very interested in these things, Mr. Liu took over the conversation.

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Those apprentices are just stationed in the port, and they should be able to maintain this crane so that it can still be used." In fact, all maritime merchants inevitably have some very large things to ship, in the past, they were dismantled a few ship boards, plus heavy ballast, and set up a few springboards to load and unload. Who doesn't want to dismantle the ship's plank, assemble and dismantle, right? Whenever there were any wooden parts in the harbor that needed to be repaired, the apprentices had to take care of them. It's not just a matter of making money, there are so many strange things on this ship, and they have seen a lot more in a year of repairing than in a workshop. Those who can be apprentices at the port are all apprentices in the second and third years, and many of them will be able to enter the Ye family's fine workshop after a year to further their studies. ”

Manager Liu asked again: "Apprentice, apprentice?" Is there a charter in this? ”

The shopkeeper explained: "This Ye family workshop is not for anyone to enter, if you want to learn the craft from the Ye family, you have to go through a year of learning, learn sawing, planing, drilling and other basic skills, and then start to follow a few masters to officially become an apprentice in the second year." The first year of the apprenticeship is to learn the craft in the Ye family's repair workshop, and the better ones will be sent out. It is inevitable that there will be some high-rollers in various restaurants, restaurants and inns, or some people will get drunk and make trouble, and there will always be something smashed. These apprentices sent out brought toolboxes to repair, and the same is true for the small shop, if something is broken, send a guy to the Ye family's repair workshop to call people, and the price of repair is extremely low. If it is a broken piece of furniture, or if it is bad, then move back to the repair workshop, but most of the general minor problems are good with a few knocks. Sometimes, it takes more effort to repair some tattered tables and chairs than to re-open them, but as long as the customer does not say anything about changing them, the repair workshop will ensure that they are repaired. The shopkeeper pointed to a table next to him and said, "Look at this table, don't look at the new paint on the surface, it was originally broken into several pieces, that is, the masters in the repair workshop took a few apprentices, and I can't see what is bad for the little old man." Although it is a little troublesome, those apprentices have been working hard for a year, and their skills are good. ”

Hearing what the shopkeeper said, Manager Liu laughed and said: "Isn't this a trick, but it makes sense to think about the apprentice so much." ”

"Not really," said the shopkeeper, who was also a little amused, "and many apprentices will not survive this year." But how much to learn something, more skills are not pressing, besides, this carpentry also has to have a bit of strength. After tossing for a year like this, it is not in vain to practice a little bit of strength. After the second year of the Ye family's apprenticeship, some of them entered rough workshops, and the other part was sent out to deal with various errands in the port or in a few barracks on the outskirts of Yicheng. ”

"Rough workshop? Those apprentices are not good at craft? Manager Liu asked.

"Not really. This person's temperament is different, and some people have a lively nature, and they like to think about things when they encounter them, and they like to be flexible. And some people may admit that in fact, the apprentices with the best skills are more in the rough workshop, and they are really more serious in their craft. The craftsmanship of the people sent out must be passable, and what is rare is that they still need to be more active. There are no less than 100 large and small ships in this port, and there are so many things that need to be done in a mess, and those who are brains are dead, it is estimated that they will be tossed and died here. It is said that in the barracks, too, sometimes the commander wants to build something on a whim, but he really can't say. Isn't that also the best use of people's talents? If you like craft, you can ponder your craft, and come out with a lively mind to experience your vision. ”

Mr. Liu bowed his head and said, "That's really the truth. And then what? ”

The shopkeeper continued: "Whether it's outside training, or in the rough workshop. Those who can survive the 3-year apprenticeship can enter Yip's Workshop to become a learner. In fact, there is not one out of ten who can survive this year's foundation and three years of apprenticeship. Even for these apprentices, the Ye family pays them quite well, but if they can't pass the apprentices, they can only find another way. But if the apprentice passes, the Ye family will give a complete set of woodworking tools, such as saws, planers, hand-cranked drills, ink fountains, and steel rulers, all of which are extremely delicate tools. This set of tools in Ye's workshop, the idle carpenters outside can't ask for a set. This set was inserted in a coarse cloth tool bag, in a tool box with an iron frame and a wooden shell. Those apprentices who were finally able to get this set of tools were in tears. …… And when I entered Ye's workshop, it was different. In addition to some people who continue to refine carpentry, many people also have to relearn lacquerwork, hoop barrels, carving, etc., and it is said that some people also learn some forging skills or some potters. The doorway in there is so deep, I can't tell the little old man. But the furniture and lacquerware made by the Ye family's workshop should have heard of it. ”

"yes. A low table in Ye's workshop can be sold for 5 taels of gold in the capital. But the short light can distinguish people, and the face is as smooth as a mirror, which can reflect people completely. Even a few old craftsmen in the capital who have been making furniture for the royal family said that they didn't know how to get it. Manager Liu sighed.

"Five taels of gold is too much." The shopkeeper said strangely, "Although the things in the Ye family's workshop are not cheap, they can be regarded as ordinary people in Yicheng." The furniture of the Ye family is very affordable in Yicheng, much more durable than those things made by carpenters who are not skilled, and it is also unique in shape, and the height, length and width are extremely applicable. Many families would rather buy things from the Ye family's workshop, which are twice as expensive, than go to a carpenter to make furniture, but it is unreasonable to be expensive in the capital. ”